Design Considerations for Triplex (3-ply / Layered)

If you are creating files for a 3-ply order, there are special considerations for this type of product.

Larger Safety Margin

When creating your design, any important content (text and graphics) should be placed away from the edge (or trim line) to avoid being trimmed due to the unavoidable shifts that may occur during the production process.

We recommend a safety margin of 0.25 inches away from the trim line for this product - that is 0.375" from the bleed. This is a larger safety margin than most standard 1-ply cards, and helps account for the larger shift known to this product. If your files do not meet this guideline you will be sent a warning for “text close to edges,” or in some cases you may receive a File Error. Download the business card template for the larger safety marginhere.

We take all necessary precautions to avoid as much shifting as possible, however this risk is higher with duplex and triplex cards because of the additional mounting process - shifts of of 0.0625" to 0.125" can occur. The further your artwork is away from the trim edge of the card, the less noticeable any shift will be. If you are concerned about possible shifts, we recommend changing to a single layered card to reduce this risk.

Border Issue

We are not able to produce a double border (border on both front and back) with this type of product. This is because registration is more difficult, and the border on one side would very likely end up off-center. If you require a border on one side, we recommend to keep this a minimum 0.25” inwards from the trim line.

If the border on both sides is integral to your design, we highly recommend to change your order to a 1-ply product with Offset output, such as the 28pt Mega Thick cards.

Duplex Embossed and Debossed Products

Often a 2-ply card is ordered to hide the opposite effect of an emboss or deboss inside the two stocks, so the back is left unaffected for printing or so the back can also be debossed / embossed.

We do not recommend this for uncoated stocks, as the mounting of the cards can damage the emboss / deboss on these softer stocks. Coated stocks are a much better choice for this type of product; however, there are other design considerations that apply to each of these projects that are specific to the design. It is best to consult with one of our print specialists if you are interested in this product by requesting a Print Quote.